Suction-cleaner.



J. L. SULLIVAN,

SUCTION CLEANER. APPLICATIQN FILED APR. 12. ms.

1,255,660 Patented Feb. 5,1918.

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FFT@EQ JOSEPH L. SULLIVAN, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGl-NOR TO THE FRANTZ PREMIER, COMPANY, OF EAST CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION 015 0M0.

SUCTION-CLEANER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application flledl April 12,1916. Serial No. 80,665.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Josnrn: L. Snnmvnn, a citizen of the United States, reslding at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Im rovement in Suct10n-Cleaners, of which t e following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference bemg had to the accompanyin drawmgs This invention re ates to suctlon cleaners and particularly to the type of cleaner which can be easily moved from place or supported upon the body o the operator for use in cleaning walls, furnlture, draperies, vehicles, or in currylng ammals, The objects of the invention are the provision of a suction cleaner of hlgh efficiency, small size, and light weight; the rovision of a device of this character w 1ch can be more easily transported and more conveniently attached to the operators body than prior devices of this nature; the pro 7 vision of new and simplified arrangements for securing said cleaner to the operators body; the provision of new and improved features of construction whereby the usability and efliciency of the device is increased; while further objects and advantages will become apparent as the description proceeds.

Generally speaking my invention may be defined as consistin of the combinations and constructions reclted'in the claims hereto annexed and illustrated in one embodiment in the drawings accompanyin and forming a part of this application w erein Figure 1 illustrates the mode of. using my improved cleaner and its mode of attachment to the operators body; Fig; 2 is a perspective view of the preferred form of supporting belt; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the cleaner removed from the belt, the dust bag and suction hose being shown disconnected from the cleaner casing; Fig. 4t. is a'longitudinal sectional view through the fan casing and associated parts;-and Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the supporting frame.

Describing the parts by reference characters, 1 represents a motor casing having a shaft 2, to one end of which is secured the centrifugal fan 3. Surrounding this fan is a second casing member 4 having one of its sides secured to the motor casing in any suitable manner as by the screws 5 and having 1place to secured to the neck 8 in any suitable manner as by the draw string 10 whereby it may be tied into the groove 11. The portion of the fan casing between the boss 6 and chamber 7 is preferably projected inwardl into reasonably close 1proximity to the ace or edge of the fan b ades as shown at 12.

The flat face of the boss 6 is provided with a spherical socket of suitable'type, the

simplest which I have conceived consisting of a pair of sheet metal rings 1515 secured face to face and having oppositely projecting flanges 16-16 defining a single spherical surface. Inside this socket is located a movable ball 17, from one face of which projects the nipple 18 receiving the flexible hose 19 which terminates in a brush or cleaning tool 20 of any suitable type depending upon the work to be done. The passageway of this nipple opens through the opposite side of the ball 17 a flared liner 21 being shown in the present embodiment,

though this is a matter of convenience of manufacture and not at all essential. Preferably the passageway flares as it approaches the fan 3 as illustrated.

The center of the ball 17 is preferably located upon the axis of the fan, and its distance from the face of the fan is such that the edge of the passageway will just clear the fan in all positions of adjustment. The inner edges of the fan blades are preferably cut away slightly as shown at 22, thus defining a kind of central cavity into which the ball may rotate to some extent.

The exterior of the casing is preferably provided with a handle 25 and also with a flattened portion 26, the latter being pro vided with a air of studs 27 having enlarged heads. ith the device there is preferably furnished a belt 28 to which is secured a frame 29, this frame being provided with an attaching piece 30 formed with a pair of key-hole slots 31, 32 adapted to receive the studs 27. The frame preferably comprises I here having a limited movement so thatthe device may be adjusted more conveniently to the wearers body: also the flexibility of the frame. 35 permits it to be bent to rest easily upon the wearers body.

It will be noted that the projection of the inlet tube to a point immediately adjacent the face of the fan serves to inclose or define the point of minimum pressure created by that fan, so that the operation of the fan serves to impress upon the tube the maximum suction which can be created, the rotation of the fan itself being comparatively free at other points thus giving a clear exit for refuse, even though it should consist of rags and other bulky articles, although the projection of the casing to a point near the fan as shown at 12 prevents eddy currents inside the casing such as would interfere with the free discharge.

It will be apparent that many changes in form, construction and arrangement could be made within the scope of my invention, wherefore although I have described my invention in detail I do not propose to be limited to such details except as the samemay be positively included in the claims hereto annexed ormay be rendered necessary by the rior state of the art.

ving thus described my invention, what I claim is:

- 1. In a suction cleaner, the combination of a motor having a shaft, a suction. fan secured to the end of said shaft, a casing surrounding said fan and spaced from the periphery thereof, a portion of said casing adacent the free face of said fan being alsov spacedtherefrom, and formed with a central spherical socket, and a suction tube projecting through said socket, tov a point closely adjacent the free face of said fan near its center, said tube having a spherical enlargement movably filling said socket.

2. In a suction cleaner the combination of a centrifugal suction fan, a casing surrounding s'aid fan, the side of said casing havlng a boss coaxial with the fan, bearing means secured to said boss and defining a spher1cal socket whose center is removed from the center of the fan by a distance approximately equal to the radius of thesocket, a ball fitting movably in said socket, and a suction tube projecting from one face of said ball and opening through the opposite face of the same.

' 3. In a suction cleaner, the combination of a centrifugal suction fan comprising a disk and having fan bladeson one side of said disk, said blades radiating out from the center of the disk a casing surrounding said fan, a portion of said casing adjacent the free face of said fan being spaced therefrom and formed with a central spherical socket, and a suction-tube projecting through said socket to a point c osely' adjacent the free face of said fan near its center, said tube having a spherical bearing surface cooperating with said spherical socket and said fan blades being cut away at their edges near the center of the fan for the purposev described.

In testlmony whereof, I hereunto afiix my signature.

JOSEPH L. SULLIVAN. 

